[joanna2007]

Lexapro resulted in jaw clenching so I switched to Prozac 20mg. It had the same side effect but worse. I have been on it 3 weeks. The pain in the jaw, neck, etc. is not bearable. From my research, I see that the options are to add Busbar, reduce dose of SSRI, or switch to another AD. Reducing the dose isn't an option as the depression is too severe.

Should I ask my pdoc to add Buspar or switch to another AD? I don't love the idea of another medication but the Prozac has started to kick in and it feels pretty good, although I am not back to normal by any means. The anxiety is a little worse. And if I switch to another AD, should I move out of the SSRI category in an attempt to find one that doesn't cause this side effect?

I appreciate the advice. I also take Vyvanse 50mg and Xanax.
THANKS!

[Gadgetsmile]

If you can't cope with the side effects I would speak to your doc

[LucyG]

When I was on Lamictal my jaw locked [as in not being able to open my mouth more than a 1/4" for 12+ hours at a time] up at least twice. When I mentioned it to my Pdoc, she said she had another patient that happened to when she forgot to take her antihistimine. She recommended I take 50 mg of Benedryl, and it never happened again.

SSRI's are known to tighten the jaw muscle resulting in lots of head and face pain.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by joanna2007

Lexapro resulted in jaw clenching so I switched to Prozac 20mg. It had the same side effect but worse. I have been on it 3 weeks. The pain in the jaw, neck, etc. is not bearable. From my research, I see that the options are to add Busbar, reduce dose of SSRI, or switch to another AD. Reducing the dose isn't an option as the depression is too severe.

The options you give are what to do if an anti-depressant is not helping with depression, not what to do if the anti-depressant is causing a serious side effect like painful jaw clenching. The options for that are:
1) change anti-depressants
2) add another med that targets the side effect

Adding Buspar will do nothing to help with the jaw clenching, so that is not an option for what you are experiencing.

Someone already mentioned taking benadryl for the clenching side effect (option 2). Since you've had this troublesome side effect with two different SSRIs, if you are going to try another AD, I would think you would want to try in a different class, like Wellbutrin, which is not an SSRI.

Definitely talk to your pdoc about the options and see what he/she suggests. If he/she recommends a different SSRI, I would ask why he/she thinks that would not cause jaw clenching when 2 other SSRIs already have. Maybe he/she would have some data for that... Meanwhile, there are definitely non-SSRI anti-depressants out there. Also, Vyvanse is very helpful for depression, even though it is not marketed for that. (I'm assuming you are getting it for ADHD.) The antidepressant Wellbutrin is also prescribed off label for ADHD so it might help not only with your depression but with ADHD (if that's what you have). On the other hand, you're already getting a lot of dopamine help from the Vyvanse, so another dopamine boost from the Wellbutrin might not be what you need. Maybe you do need some serotonin in there somewhere. You do say the prozac is helping with depression. So maybe the benadryl (or similar) route might be the way to go. Talk w/doc!

[joanna2007]

Originally Posted by sunrise

The options you give are what to do if an anti-depressant is not helping with depression, not what to do if the anti-depressant is causing a serious side effect like painful jaw clenching. The options for that are:
1) change anti-depressants
2) add another med that targets the side effect

Adding Buspar will do nothing to help with the jaw clenching, so that is not an option for what you are experiencing.

Someone already mentioned taking benadryl for the clenching side effect (option 2). Since you've had this troublesome side effect with two different SSRIs, if you are going to try another AD, I would think you would want to try in a different class, like Wellbutrin, which is not an SSRI.

Definitely talk to your pdoc about the options and see what he/she suggests. If he/she recommends a different SSRI, I would ask why he/she thinks that would not cause jaw clenching when 2 other SSRIs already have. Maybe he/she would have some data for that... Meanwhile, there are definitely non-SSRI anti-depressants out there. Also, Vyvanse is very helpful for depression, even though it is not marketed for that. (I'm assuming you are getting it for ADHD.) The antidepressant Wellbutrin is also prescribed off label for ADHD so it might help not only with your depression but with ADHD (if that's what you have). On the other hand, you're already getting a lot of dopamine help from the Vyvanse, so another dopamine boost from the Wellbutrin might not be what you need. Maybe you do need some serotonin in there somewhere. You do say the prozac is helping with depression. So maybe the benadryl (or similar) route might be the way to go. Talk w/doc!

Well, I tried the Benedryl and it did not work. I saw pdoc this week. He asked if Jaw Clenching started immediately after taking Prozac and I said yes. He said that if it started 5 or so days into the treatment that reducing the dose might work to eliminate the side effect but since it started right away a lower dose would likely not produce changes. He switched me to Pristiq. I am scared to take it. The depression is for sure better when I take Vyvanse. I am usually not afraid of trying new meds but I have taken mostly ssris. Welbutrin in the past made me too anxious. There have been several studies in which Buspar has been successfully used in treated SSRI induced Bruxism. I just don't really want to add more meds. I will try to be brave and start the Prestiq soon.